Staff

Welcome to the 2017-18 school year! Staff spent their summer growing and learning by reading professional books and attending professional development, and we are excited to share our learning with our scholars. We are continuing to delve deeper into the philosophy of Cognitively Guided Instruction. CGI is an approach to mathematics pedagogy which focuses on the development of students' mathematical thinking. Teachers are refining instructional practices that expand mathematical thinking and increase the conceptual understanding students bring to the math learning process, as well as how students use that knowledge to connect with formal concepts and operations. If you would like to learn more about CGI, check out these two resources: Children's Mathematics: Cognitively Guided Instruction 2nd ed., and Mathematical Mindsets: Unleashing Students' Potential through Creative Math, Inspiring Messages and Innovative Teaching 1st ed. I encourage you to join us for Back to school Night on August 23, 2017 to learn more about CGI. Back to School Night Presentations: TK-2 @ 5:30, 3rd-5th @ 6:15

PCE launched our "Bucket Fillers" Campaign last school year, and we will once again infuse this message throughout our school. Through our Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Program, we will be focusing on how we can fill someone else's emotional bucket through our actions and how we can avoid "dipping" into someone else's emotional bucket. This is a great way for young children to connect with how their actions impact others and help them develop empathy. Click here for more information on how you can support our efforts and bring this concept to your own home.

We will continue our implementation and refinement of Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop. During Reader's Workshop, teachers will ensure students are reading “just right” books at their independent reading levels and that they are applying the skills and strategies learned during daily mini-lessons. They will be assisting your child in developing a passion for reading by exploring a variety of genres. During Writer’s Workshop, teachers will be providing direct instruction in specific writing techniques and strategies and students will apply their learning to a variety of authentic writings of their own. Peters Canyon is a "GATE Cluster" school, which means that our GATE identified scholars are placed in small clusters in general education classrooms with GATE trained and certified teachers. All scholars focus on two GATE Thinking Prompts each month. Samples of scholars’ work at all grade levels will be posted on our school website to help families better understand how GATE strategies are integrated in a "GATE Cluster" general education setting and what GATE instruction looks like “in action.”

Thanks to the generosity of our PTO, our students will continue to experience Bravo Music, Meet the Masters Art Program, field trips, assemblies, on campus events, and instructional support. We are immensely grateful for the experiences and support we are able to provide at PCE through our PTO and our volunteers, who are extremely generous with their time and resources!

We try diligently to keep you well informed of campus events and information. All teachers use an app called Seesaw to share daily classroom information. Please be sure you get signed up for this at Back to School Night. Class assignments will be available via the Aeries Parent Portal on August 21, 2017 after 3:00 pm. Please be sure you have updated your email address in your parent portal, or contact the office at 714)730-7540. We know it is going to be a fabulous year at PCE, and we look forward to seeing you on the first day of school (8/22/17)!

Mrs. Brooke Carreras began serving Peters Canyon Elementary and the Tustin Unified School District in August, 2014. Mrs. Carreras is a graduate of Chapman University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies. She holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a Master of Science Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and an Administrative Services Credential from California State University at Fullerton.

Mrs. Carreras began her career in education in 1995 in the Anaheim Elementary School District. She taught 2nd, 5th, and 6th grades, and was a resource teacher for struggling readers. Mrs. Carreras was a curriculum specialist in math and language arts and a certified state trainer for the BTSA New Teacher Induction Program. Mrs. Carreras received the Spotlight on Educators Award from the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce Women’s Division, and was honored in 2014 by the Orange County Department of Education for her dedication and support for English Learner success.

Mrs. Carreras lives in Tustin with her husband and two children. She is honored to be serving the PCE family and the community in which she lives. A quote from Coach John Wooden, one of her role models, sums up her philosophy about educating elementary age children: “Coaching isn’t about “the game” it’s about building habits and practices that support students for life.” Mrs. Carreras is proud to bring an emphasis on developing a growth mindset to PCE, and partnering with parents and staff to develop scholars who are life-long learners.

“If I am through learning, I am through.”

“Success is never final, failure is never fatal, it’s courage that counts.”